Who should get Typhoid Vaccine and When?

Typhoid vaccine is an optional vaccine to prevent Typhoid fever caused by bacteria called Salmonella Typhi. This is a serious disease because it may cause high fever, stomach pains, headache, weakness, loss of appetite, and sometimes a rash. Commonly, people get Typhoid from contaminated water or food.  When people get typhoid they become “carriers” who are at risks in spreading it to others.

My husband told me that during his teenage age, he got ill with typhoid fever. He describe to me the causes and the feelings that he had with typhoid fever which I already mentioned in the first paragraph. Even this vaccine is optional, I opted to have a shot of the Typhoid vaccine for our little boy. After the vaccination, my son did not complain for any reactions. I guessed there is no typhoid vaccine side effects with my son. It was an inactivated (killed) vaccine gotten as a shot while the other way can be taken orally which is live, attenuated (weakened) vaccine.

Who should get Typhoid Vaccine?

• Typhoid vaccines are recommended for travelers to areas where there is a risk of exposure to Salmonella Typhi, persons with frequent contact with a typhoid carrier and laboratory workers who work with Salmonella Typhi bacteria.

When should you get Typhoid Vaccine?

• Single dose as early as two years of age  but not given to children below two years of age
• One dose provides protection. It should be given at least 2 weeks before travel to allow the vaccine time to work
• Re-vaccination (booster dose) every 2-3 years if with continued or repeated exposure to S. Typhi.

My three-year old toddler already gotten a shot of Pneumonia vaccine last February and Influenza vaccine last month. His next vaccine schedule are booster for MMR, Hepa A vaccine and Meningococcal vaccine. Our world is changing rapidly same with the bacteria and viruses that causes several diseases. It it better to have prevention for the safety and health of our family.

How about you? Have you checked the typhoid vaccine schedule of your child? You may visit my post about Childhood Immunization schedule 2012.

Factual Source: Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines (PIDSP), the Philippine Foundation for vaccination (PFV), Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) and Department of health and Human services – Centers for disease control and prevention.